Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and French President H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron jointly addressed the 14th India-France CEOs Forum in Paris, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. The forum, attended by top business leaders from India and France, focused on key sectors including defence, aerospace, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle, and hospitality.
India-France Economic Collaboration: A Strong Strategic Partnership
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the expanding business and economic collaboration between India and France, emphasizing that this partnership is a key pillar of the India-France strategic relationship. He reiterated India’s position as a leading global investment destination, citing political stability, a predictable policy ecosystem, and ongoing economic reforms as major enablers of foreign investment.
Key Economic Reforms & Investment Opportunities
The Prime Minister outlined several pro-business reforms introduced in India, including:
- 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Insurance Sector
- Opening of Civil Nuclear Energy Sector for Private Participation, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs)
- Simplified customs rate structures to boost international trade
- Introduction of a streamlined income tax code to enhance the Ease of Living and Doing Business
- Rationalization of over 40,000 compliance requirements to create a trust-based regulatory framework
He further stated that a high-level committee for regulatory reforms had been established to drive trust-based economic governance, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing business-friendly policies.
Inviting French Companies to Join India’s Growth Story
Prime Minister Modi encouraged French enterprises to explore investment opportunities in India’s booming sectors, including:
- Defence & Aerospace
- Renewable Energy & Hydrogen Economy
- Highways & Civil Aviation
- Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- Fintech & Digital Public Infrastructure
- Sustainable Development & Green Technologies
He emphasized that India’s skilled workforce, technological innovation, and government-led initiatives such as the AI, Semiconductor, Quantum Computing, Critical Minerals, and Hydrogen Missions provide unprecedented opportunities for global businesses. He urged French companies to partner with India in fostering mutual growth and prosperity.
High-Level Ministerial Participation
The forum was also addressed by:
- Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister
- H.E. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
- H.E. Eric Lombard, Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, France
These discussions reaffirmed the India-France commitment to innovation, investment, and technology-driven partnerships for economic growth and global stability.
Notable Business Leaders Attending the Forum
Indian Delegation
| Company | Sector | Representative |
|---|---|---|
| Jubilant FoodWorks/Jubilant Life Sciences | Food & Beverage | Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman & Director |
| CII | Business Advocacy | Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General |
| Titagarh Rail Systems | Railways & Infrastructure | Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman & MD |
| Bharat Light & Power | Renewable Energy | Tejpreet Chopra, President & CEO |
| PM Mafatlal Group | Textiles & Industrial Products | Vishad Mafatlal, Chairman |
| boAt | Consumer Electronics | Aman Gupta, Co-Founder |
| Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce | Business Inclusion | Milind Kamble, Founder/Chairman |
| Skyroot Aerospace | Aerospace & Space | Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder |
| Agnikul | Aerospace & Space | Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder & CEO |
| Tata Advanced Systems Ltd | Aerospace & Defence | Sukaran Singh, Managing Director |
| UPL Group | Agrochemicals | Vikram Shroff, Vice Chairman & Co-CEO |
| Sula Vineyards | Food & Beverage | Rajeev Samant, CEO |
| Dynamatic Technologies | Aerospace & Defence | Udayant Malhoutra, CEO & MD |
| Tata Consulting Engineers | Engineering & Consulting | Amit Sharma, MD & CEO |
| Nykaa | Cosmetics & Consumer Goods | Falguni Nayar, CEO |
French Delegation
| Company | Sector | Representative |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus | Aerospace & Defence | Guillaume Faury, CEO |
| Air Liquide | Chemicals & Engineering | François Jackow, CEO |
| BlaBlaCar | Transport | Nicolas Brusson, CEO & Co-Founder |
| Capgemini | Information Technology | Aiman Ezzat, CEO |
| Danone | Food & Beverages | Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO |
| EDF | Energy & Power | Luc Rémont, Chairman & CEO |
| Egis Group | Construction & Engineering | Laurent Germain, CEO |
| Engie Group | Renewable Energy | Catherine MacGregor, CEO & Board Member |
| L’Oréal | Cosmetics & Consumer Goods | Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO |
| Mistral AI | Artificial Intelligence | Arthur Mensch, CEO & Co-Founder |
| Naval Group | Defence & Shipbuilding | Pierre Eric Pommellet, Chairman & CEO |
| Pernod Ricard | Alcohol Beverages | Alexandre Ricard, Chairman & CEO |
| Safran | Aerospace & Defence | Olivier Andriès, CEO |
| Servier | Pharmaceuticals | Olivier Laureau, President & CEO |
| Total Energies | Energy | Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman & CEO |
| Vicat | Construction | Guy Sidos, Chairman & CEO |
Advancing the India-France Strategic Partnership
The India-France CEOs Forum served as a crucial platform to deepen business collaboration, enhance technology partnerships, and drive sustainable economic development. The discussions reinforced both nations’ shared vision for strengthening trade and investment, while leveraging innovation for a prosperous and sustainable future.
The next edition of the CEOs Forum is expected to be held in New Delhi, further cementing India-France economic ties.